Shishkin could clash with Greaneteen at Kempton after crucial workout

Shishkin could face Tingle Creek Chase winner Greaneteen on his eagerly awaited seasonal return after he featured among five entries for the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton (2.30) on Monday.

Last season's Arkle winner has not been seen since landing the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree in April, having been absent from his intended reappearance in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown this month after he scoped dirty following routine work.

Henderson had earmarked Kempton's 2m Grade 2 next Monday as a possible starting point to his campaign and he could be set to make his reappearance following a Tuesday morning gallop under regular big-race rider Nico de Boinville.

2.30 Kempton: Desert Orchid Chase entries and betting

Speaking before the gallop on Monday evening, Henderson said: "It's a possibility and we'll decide after that piece of work. He's only done one serious piece since I've been able to bring him back with a clean bill of health.

"He's fine, but I've got to be happy with him in the morning, or we'll wait for the Clarence House Chase at Ascot next month. We've had to push quite hard to get here as he's not an exuberant work horse."

He added on a Jockey Club Zoom call: "I hope we do run but if we don't I hope everyone will understand, we're only doing it for the horse – he comes first and if not we'll wait for the Clarence House. He's got to work, and got to work very, very well for us to be happy."

Greaneteen, who provided Paul Nicholls with a 12th success in the Tingle Creek, and progressive sorts Before Mightnight, Funambule Sivola and Grand Annual winner Sky Pirate complete the entries.

Shishkin heads the betting for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at a general 7-4 ahead of Energumene at 9-4, with Greaneteen a 6-1 chance, but Henderson said he would need two runs before the Cheltenham Festival Grade 1.

Shishkin: an easy winner of the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival last seasonCredit: Getty Images

He said: "Personally I think he ranks at the top against them, but we've got to prove that. I'm not trying to wrap him up, I'm dying to run him and he's got to get out there with at least two proper races into him before March.

"He has the potential to be like Altior and Sprinter Sacre as well, but he hasn't done yet. He's out of novice company and has to do it against the older boys and there's a whole host of them who are strong performers."

A possible field of five could also take part in Kempton's other Grade 2 on the card the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase (1.20), which Shishkin won last year, and could see Edwardstone bid to stake his claims as Britain's leading novice chaser this season following his Henry VIII Novices' Chase win.

Desert Orchid Chase entries

Before Midnight
Funambule Sivola
Greaneteen Bryony Frost
Shishkin Nico de Boinville
Sky Pirate

Epatante pleasing ahead of Christmas Hurdle

Henderson said Epatante will be ridden by De Boinville for the first time on the track when she bids to regain her Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle crown on Boxing Day, and he believes they will have "no excuses" should she suffer another shock defeat.

An easy winner of the race in her Champion Hurdle-winning season two years ago, she suffered a shock defeat by Silver Streak when sent off the 1-5 favourite 12 months ago.

The seven-year-old returned following back surgery in the summer when dead-heating alongside the re-opposing Not So Sleepy in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle last month. Regular jockey Aidan Coleman was on board that day but is suspended for the ride on Sunday.

Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle card and betting

Henderson said: "I'm not going there lined up with excuses and I'm expecting and hoping for the best. Nico is the guy who virtually lives here – he's ridden these horses all the time, while Aidan will sit on her twice before the season starts, so I'm not worried about that. If she's on song, she'll be fine.

"Things weren't going right for her last year, but things have gone a lot better this year. Everything is tickety-boo, but you wouldn't want to see the Epatante at Kempton last year. She was uncomfortable even before the race, where she didn't jump with her normal accuracy and speed.

"Take nothing away from poor Silver Streak, but she's now in a good place. I suspect we might get a very strong pace, which shouldn't worry her, but if we get no pace she should have the gears to beat them still."

Epatante (nearside): has been pleasing more this year in her bid to regain her Christmas Hurdle crownCredit: Jonathan Grossick

The outcome of the Christmas Hurdle will determine whether she continues down the Champion Hurdle route this season, having lost her crown when a well-held third behind Honeysuckle last March, or whether she could be rerouted towards the Mares' Hurdle.

"She looks a two-miler but is she going to beat Honeysuckle? In all probability the answer is no whatever she does on Sunday," he added.

"We're still ambitious, we're not going to lay down and we could even try her over two and a half and see if she stays that in the Mares' – that's only crossed my mind recently and I haven't even mentioned that to anybody.

"This and the Fighting Fifth were her two aims for the year. If we get this, we've achieved what we wanted to achieve because after that it's a totally different ball game. We'll certainly walk straight into Honeysuckle – she's something different."

Clerk of the course Brian Clifford predicted good to soft ground for the first day of the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase meeting at Kempton on Sunday.

The going is currently described as good, good to soft in places but he said: "We're forecast rain on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, somewhere in the region of up to 15mm.

"The ground can only ease and I think we need it. If I had to call it now, I'd say the ground could be good to soft with that rain, maybe a bit easier on the lake bend."

Fears of wintry weather for the second day of the fixture appear to have eased and Clifford said: "There was an indication on Boxing Day night it could turn colder with some slushy, powdery stuff but that may have relented a little bit so touch wood we should be fine."

Read more:

Five to follow away from the Grade 1 action in Britain and Ireland this Sunday

Native River given green light to target second Welsh National under big weight

Tritonic set for surprise clash with Epatante in Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle

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